Philips Fidelio DS3000 Review - Futuristically Designed Solid Performer

The Philips Fidelio DS3000 is another in a long line of iPod speaker docks that have flooded the market ever since the iPod's ubiquity became obvious. Whatever your budget, you can get a standalone iPod speaker dock for your room, ranging from the excruciatingly beautiful Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin Air retailing at almost 0 to the Fidelio DS3000 itself which sells for just . For music aficionados, there couldn't be a better time than this.

Philips Fidelio DS3000 Review: Design

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Priced under , the Fidelio isn't an expensive device, but one look at it and you would be tempted to think otherwise. The glossy, elegantly shaped speaker has the aura of a much more expensive system. The back of the speaker is a gleaming white, while the speaker itself is a pleasant shade of gray. The curved, vaguely oval shaped design gives it a futuristic look that will definite invite glances.

At just around 3lbs, this unit is extremely easy to move around. At the center of the speaker is the iPod dock. If you strain your imagination, you might find yourself compelled to think of your iPod as sitting erect on a futuristic chair. Or perhaps I'm just letting my geekier side get the better of me today...

The speakers require a power outlet but can also work on a set of 4 AA batteries for 8 hours of continuous playback. Plus, the Fidelio will also charge your iPod/iPhone when it's docked in.

The back of the DS3000 houses a USB port for plugging in the speaker to your computer, along with the power cable, and an auxiliary input for hooking up to non-Apple devices. The front of the device has just two buttons straddled on either side of a shiny, metallic Philips logo - for turning the volume up or down.

All in all, design wise, the Philips Fidelio DS3000 scores a perfect 10/10. It looks great, especially considering that it isn't a particularly expensive device. The glossy finish, hollow curved design make it look like something that would look right at home on the sets of Star Trek - which can never be bad in an iPod speaker dock.

Philips Fidelio DS3000 Review: Performance

This is the more important part, since you are, after all, plopping down your money for outstanding performance and not just good design. Fortunately, the Fidelio DS3000 won't let you down in this regard and delivers a performance that strives to match up, if not exceed, what the design promises.

Connecting your Apple device to the Fidelio is extremely easy since the speaker is compatible with pretty much every iPod/iPhone ever created, going all the way back to the 4th generation iPod. Just slide it into the speaker dock, and you're all set to play music.

The sound is rich with strong warm tones without a hint of the hard, flintiness you normally associate with cheaper iPod docks. The speakers deliver 8W of power which is more than adequate for a medium sized room. A feature called 'Dynamic Bass Boost' ensures that the audio doesn't flare up on bass heavy tracks, though there is some distortion at higher volumes (which is expected). Shielding technology blocks out interference from mobile phones for smoother, hassle free playback.

Additionally, you can download the Fidelio app which gives you greater control over your playlists and lets you tap into over 7000 radio stations, share updates with friends on Facebook and set up alarms. While not necessary, the app is nevertheless, quite useful.

On the downside, there is no remote control, which is a big letdown since the Fidelio promises so much. Without a remote control, you will have to change tracks manually which can't be a lot of fun if you want to just lounge around the house.

Philips Fidelio DS3000 Review: Conclusion

The Fidelio DS 3000 is one of the better iPod speaker docks on the market boasting of a delightful design, superior construction, and strong performance. Unless you hanker after audiophile grade quality, it will do nicely as your primary speaker system. Otherwise, the Fidelio DS3000 should make for a more than adequate secondary speaker. The absence of a remote hurts, but at just , you can't ask for more.

Rating: A

Philips Fidelio DS3000 Review - Futuristically Designed Solid Performer